Garment hanger and protector



GARMENT HANGER AND PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Il 36 15 5 I 3o t {7J (fate 07E fie Jay.

Dec. 12, 1933. J. DE FAY 1,938,567

GARMENT HANGER AND PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IQLQ. 2

Patented Dec. 12 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE Application November 19, 1932 Serial No. 643,339

9 Claims.

This invention relates to garment hangers and protectors and may be considered as an improvement over the structure disclosed in my Patent No. 1,850,169, issued March 22, 1932.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved and more efficient cover structure formed of paper, fiber, composition, sheet metal or any other suitable sheet material and adapted particularly for application to the ordinary wire hanger comprising the shoulder members, a cross bar, and a supporting hook at the juncture of the shoulder members, on which cover structure the portion covering the shoulder and cross bar parts of the hanger are well-rounded transversely so as to offer more extended area for the garments or apparel to be supported and to prevent creasing thereof.

A further object is to provide improved means for locking the cover structure to the cross bar of the hanger after application of the cover structure to the hanger so that the cover structure and hanger cannot then become displaced from each other.

A further important object is to provide a cover, formed separately from the hanger shoulder engaging body of the cover structure, which separate cover is secured to the rear wall of the cover structure body and deflected over and around the hanger cross bar with its front portion forming a detent wall or flap for engaging at its end against the front wall of I the cover structure between which detent and front wall apparel hung over the cross bar is clamped against slipping off accidentally, together with end sections on the cross bar cover looped and secured around the hanger cross bar to thus lock the hanger against separation from the cover structure. 7

A further important object is to leave the front wall of the cover structure free for flexure under weight of apparel hung on the shoulder portions of the structure which flexure will cooperate with the detent on the cross bar covering portion to securely clamp apparel hung over the cross bar covering portion.

Still a further object is to provide cross ribs or corrugations on the shoulder portions of the covering structure for preventing slipping of garments or other apparel from the shoulders.

The above specifically referred to and other important features of the invention are shown incorporated in the structure disclosed on the drawings, in which drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a wire hanger with the cover structure thereon;

. Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same structure;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on plane IIIHI of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the sheet material after forming by the dies and before folding thereof to form the body part of the covering structure;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the sheet after cutting by the dies and before forming thereof to provide the cover for the hanger cross bar;

Figure 6 is an enlarged end view looking from the left of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of a modified form of cover structure for a wire hanger;

Figure 8 is a front elevatiton of the same structure;

Figure 9 is an enlarged section on plane IXIX of Figure '7; and

Figure 10 shows a modified arrangement for securing a suspension hook to a cover structure.

One type of hanger for which my improved cover structure is particularly adapted is formed from a single piece of wire and comprises the shoulder sections 10 and the cross bar 11, the ends of the wire being twisted together to form the shank 12 of the hook 13 formed by bending one end of the wire.

The main part of the cover structure which is to be supported by the shoulders of the hanger is formed by suitable dies from a single piece of paper, fiber, composition, metal or any other suitable sheet material, the cut piece after leaving the dies being shown in Figure 4. It comprises the triangular body portion 14 having the skirt portion 15, and the substantially triangular portions 16 and 17. The portions 16 and 17 are deflected downwardly with a gradual bend as indicated at 18 into position behind the portion 14 with the inner end of the portion 1'7 overlapping the inner end of the portion 16, the overlapping sections being secured together as bygluing to form a vertical central seam or joint 19 as indicated in Figure 2. At its inner corner the portion 16 is cut away so that the edge 20, after 1 securing together of the portions 16 and 17, will not be overlapped by the portion 17 but will be parallel with and outside of the inner edge of the portion 17 so as to leave a vertical slot 21 leading at its upper end to the hole 22 formed at the peak of the structure by slightly cutting away the corner between the parts 16 and 17. When the formed cover structure is to be applied to thehanger, the end of the hanger hook is inserted through the slot 21 and then the hook bar.

and the shank can readily be extended above the cover structure with the shank within the hole 22 and the shoulder parts of the hanger against the bends 18 or" the cover structure. These bends are of sufiicient radius so that wearing or other apparel hung on the shoulders of the cover structure will not be too abruptly bent and creased. The extended surface formed by the gradual bends will offer more resistance to a suspended garment, and, to increase the resistance and prevent the garment from slipping down the shoulders, these shoulders are provided with transversely extending creases 23 or are transversely corrugated, and these creases or corrugations may be formed in the piece of material from which the cover structure is formed, as indicated on Figure 4. The triangular portion 14 with its skirt 15 will form the smooth unbroken front wall of the cover structure on whose outer face advertising or other matter may be printed.

When the parts 16 and 17 are folded down and overlapped and secured together, their lower edges 24 and 25 are in horizontal alignment and these parts then form the back of the cover structure. Extending at right angles from the outer ends of the parts 16 and 17 are the comparativelynarrow extensions or tongues 26 and 27 respectively and after bending down and securing of the parts 16 and 17, these tongues extending downwardly as best shown in Figure 2 and with the lower edges 24 and 25 of the parts 16 and 17 they define the transversely extending rectangular space 50. This space is partially closed by the cover structure for the hanger cross This cross bar cover structure is formed by suitable dies from a single piece of sheet material, this piece being rectangular as shown in Figure 5 and being slitted transversely adjacent to each end thereof to leave the flaps or tongues 28 and 29. The cross bar cover piece comprises the unslitted body part 30, the detent flap forming part 31, and the tongues 28 and 29. As best shown in Figure 6, the material piece for forming the cover is bent longitudinally at a comparatively large radius along the base of the part 31 and the tongues 28 and 29, to form the gradual substantially semi-circular bend or supporting sill 32 between the body part 30 and the detent end 31. After the wire hanger has been inserted in the shoulder engaging cover structure, the

bent cover structure for the cross bar is hung over the cross bar with the bend 32 in engagement therewith. The ends of the body 30 are then aligned against the inner sides of the tongues 26 and 2'7 and the tongues 28 and 29 are brought back against the ends of the body 30 and also in alignment with the tongues 26 and 27 and the three layers are then secured together as by means of stitching 33, the upper stitching being close to the bends of the tongues 28 and 29 so as to form the loops 34 for snugly surrounding the ends of the hanger cross bar. The wire hanger is thus secured at the ends of the cross bar to the rear wall of the cover structure with the shoulders of the wire hanger in engagement with the shoulder parts of the cover structure and relative displacement of the cover structure and hanger is thus prevented and the cover structure is kept accurately in place on the hanger.

The material of which the cover structure is made is sufficiently springy so that the front and rear walls thereof will tend to diverge, as best shown in Figure 6, and the detent flap 31 on the cross bar cover structure tends to deflect forwardly against the front wall of the cover structure with its lower edge in engagement therewith. The detent flap and the front wall will thus cooperate to form a clamp, and, when a garment or other wearing apparel is hung over the cross bar cover structure, and inserted between the ends of the detent flap 31 and the front wall of the cover structure, it will be clamped and held against slipping off of the cross bar cover structure, and, in order to avoid injury to the supported apparel, the lower edge 31 of the detent clamp may be bent or curled so as to keep the sharp edge away from the apparel.

The height or" the cross bar cover structure is less than the height of the space 50 between the tongues 26, 27 to leave the passageway 35 for the insertion of apparel to be supported. By making the cross bar cover structure separate from the shoulder cover structure and securing them together as has been described, a strong structure results, the three layers of material secured together at the ends of the structure stiffening the back wall thereof which must support most of the load. Also by making the cross bar cover structure separate, sufiicient material may be used for a substantial structure without sacrifice of material in the shoulder cover structure as would be the case were the cross bar cover structure formed from material out out of the shoulder cover structure.

When a garment is hung on the shoulder cover structure its pressure against the front wall thereof will tend to move this wall inwardly and any such movement will increase the pressure of the front wall and detent flap 31 against the apparel hung over the cross bar cover portion. The roughened or corrugated bends of the shoulder cover will tend to prevent downward slip of a garment and hold it properly aligned on the shoulders Without strain or distortion.

Figures '7, 8 and 9 disclose an efficient cover structure which can be economically manufactured from sheet metal, or cardboard of paper, rubber, composition, metal coated paper, or other material. The structure is formed from a single piece of material and comprises the triangular body 36 with the skirt 37 depending therefrom, the shoulder edge section being bent or curled around to form rolls 38 of circular or oval cross section affording sufficient supporting area for garments without causing abrupt bending or 79.5.

creasing thereof. The upper part of the skirt 37 is cut to provide a section which may be bent and curled to form a supporting roll 39 of circular or ovate cross section affording a support for garments inserted through the space 40 left after forming of the roll 39. The rolls 38 and 39 are left sufficiently open for insertion therein of the shoulder bars and cross bar of a wire hanger, and between the upper ends of the shoulder rolls 38 sufficient space 41 is provided for insertion of the shank of the hanger below the suspension hook thereof. The hanger is applied against the rear face of the vertical wall of the structure below the openings of the rolls thereof and with the hanger shank in the opening 41 and then the 11-;

support structure may be dropped into place with the rolls receiving the shoulders and cross bar of the hanger.

To guard against slippage of apparel off of the supporting roll 39 a friction or detent clamp 42 .5

strip is deflected away from this position by the insertion of apparel through the passage 40 and over the roll 39, the strip will exert pressure against the apparel and prevent slipping thereof from the roll 39.

Where the cover structure material is of sufiicient thickness and strength a complete hanger will not be required for the support thereof and only a hook may be provided for the structure. Such hook may be secured in a manner as disclosed in Figure 10 where an angle piece 43 is inserted in the ends of the shoulder rolls to support a hook 44 which may be threaded in the angle piece or secured in any other manner. On the structures of Figures '7 to 10 the shoulder rolls may be provided with transversely extending ribs or corrugations 45 for preventing slipping or displacement of apparel hung over the shoulderrolls. Apparel hung over the shoulders will tend.

to exert pressure against the detent strip 42 and thus apply it more firmly against apparel hung over the cross bar roll 39 as clearly illustrated in Figure 9.

Where the structure of Figures 7 to 9 is of sheet metal or material of similar characteristics, the cross bar roll 39, after insertion of the hanger cross bar therein, may be closed to form a retaining loop for preventing separation of the hanger and the cover structure. Instead of bending the entire roll 39 to secure the hanger cross bar only the end sections 46 thereof may be bent around the ends of the hanger cross bar and the resulting loops will serve the same purpose as the loops 34 of the structures of Figures 1 to 6.

I thus provide a simple, economically manufactured, and efficient garment supporting and protecting structure which functions automatically to properly hold applied garments or apparel in place to prevent shipping and falling off of the garments, and, where a complete metal hanger is associated with a garment supporting cover structure, the structure and the hanger will be securely held together in proper relative position and alignment. I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described, as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as follows:

1. In combination, a wire hanger comprising shoulder portions and a transverse portion and a hook extending from the upper ends of the shoulder portions, a garment supporting cover structure for the hanger comprising a main part having front and rear triangular walls connected along their tops by gradual bends forming shoulders engaging the shoulder portions of the hanger, tongues depending from the lateral ends of the rear wall, a cross supporting structure extending between and secured at its ends to said tongues with its upper edge a distance below the lower edge of said rear wall to leave a passageway for the insertion of apparel to be supported, the portion of said cross support between said tongues being gradually deflected around the cross bar of said hanger and depending downwardly and for wardly into pressure engagement with said front wall to form a clamp for engaging apparel supported on said cross support, the end portions of said cross support being looped around the ends of the hanger cross bar and secured to said tongues whereby to prevent displacement of said hanger relative to said cover structure.

2. In combination with a hanger comprising inclined shoulder portions and a cross bar connectingthe ends of the shoulder portions and a hook extending from the upper end of the shoulder portions, of a cover structure consisting of a shoulder part and a horizontal part,

said shoulder part being formed of-a single piece of sheet material and comprising front and rear triangular walls connected at the top by gradual bends for receiving the shoulder portions of the hanger and for presenting shoulder surfaces, tongues depending from the lateral ends of the rear wall, said horizontal part being formed of a single piece of sheet material bent to U form and comprising a body part and a detent part,

said body part extending between said tongues a distance below the lower edge of said rear wall to leave a passageway for apparel to be supported, the bend of said horizontal part extending around the cross bar of the hanger and the detent part extending downwardly and forwardly for pressure engagement with the front wall of said shoulder part to form a clamp for material supported on said horizontal part, said detent part being transversely slitted at its ends to leave flaps, said flaps being bent around the hanger cross bar at the ends thereof and together with the ends of said body part being secured to said tongues whereby displacement of said hanger from the cover structure will be prevented.

3. A garment support comprising a triangular wall of sheet material having its upper edges gradually bent or rolled to form supporting shoulders, a supporting hook projecting from the upper ends of said shoulders, and transverse ribs or corrugations on said shoulders.

4. A garment hanger and protector structure formed of sheet material comprising a triangular body part presenting garment supporting shoulders at its top and having tongues depending from the ends of its base at right angles therewith, and a horizontal supporting structure secured to and extending between said tongues a distance below the base of said triangular part to leave a narrow rectangular slot for the insertion of apparel to be supported on said horizontal structure.

5. A garment'support comprising front and rear triangular walls connected by gradual bends to form shoulder portions, said rear wall having tongues depending from its base at the lateral ends thereof, and a cross support secured to and extending between said tongues a distance below the base of said rear wall to leave a rectangular opening for the insertion of apparel to be hung on said support, said support having a detent flap inclined downwardly and forwardly for pressure engagement with the front wall for clamping between said wall and said flap of the apparel supported on said cross support.

6. A garment supporting structure comprising a body part formed from a single piece of sheet material and comprising front and rear triangular walls connected at their tops by gradual bends to provide supporting shoulders, tongues dependits lower edge against the front wall to form a clamp for receiving apparel on said horizontal supporting structure.

'7. In combination with a hanger comprising inclined shoulder portions and a cross bar connecting the ends of the shoulder portions and a hook extending from the shoulder portions, of a cover structure consisting of a triangular shoulder part receiving the shoulders of said hanger and a horizontal part receiving the cross bar of the hanger said shoulder part and horizontal part being separated by a gap through which apparel may be inserted to be supported on said horizontal part, and tongues on said horizontal part intimately looped around the hanger cross bar whereby to prevent displacement of said hanger relative to said cover structure.

8. In combination with a hanger comprising inclined shoulder portions and a cross bar between the ends of the shoulder portions and a hook extending from the shoulder portions, of a cover structure comprising a triangular body part for resting on the shoulder portions of said hanger and a horizontal part for engaging the cross bar of the hanger, said body and horizontal part being separated by a gap for the insertion of apparel to be supported by the horizontal part, tongues at the ends of said horizontal part looping around the cross bar of the hanger to prevent displacement of the hanger relative to the cover structure, said horizontal part between said tongues being deflected around the hanger cross bar and downwardly to form a flap for engaging against said body part, said flap and body part forming a clamp for holding apparel hung over said horizontal part.

9. A garment supporting and protecting structure to be applied to the ordinary wire garment hanger which comprises inclined shoulder portions and a cross bar connecting the ends of the shoulder portions and a hook extending from the upper ends of the shoulder portions, said supporting and protecting structure comprising a body part formed from a single piece of sheet material and comprising front and rear triangular walls connected at their tops by gradual bends to provide supporting shoulders for engaging the shoulders of the wire hanger, tongues depending from the base of the rear wall at the lateral ends thereof, a horizontal supporting structure formed from a single rectangular piece of sheet material extending between and secured to said tongues a distance below the lower edge of the rear wall whereby to leave a rectangular passage for the insertion of apparel to be supported, said horizontal supporting structure being gradually bent around the cross bar of the wire hanger to form a rounded seat for the supported apparel, said cover structure having a slit in one of its triangular Walls extending downwardly from the apex thereof a sufiioient distance for passage therethrough of the wire hanger hook when the cover structure is applied to the hanger.

JOSEPH DE FAY. 

